Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Brother 101

I am trying to learn my new Brother Sewing Machine and while I am having FUN doing so, I still have a lot to learn.  But that's okay... practice will eventually make me the 'master' of my machine, right?

I practiced free motion quilting on this little block.  I am amazed at how much easier the fabric glides around with the feed dogs down and the quilting foot attachment on the machine.  If you click, you will see that I have a ways to go.... and that I changed designs throughout the process.... but it was fun.  I can feel the potential here!!!

I decided to call this quilt 'finished' without adding the appliqued flower designs, like I had mentioned in an earlier post.  I cut the flowers out, but when I laid them on the quilt, my daughter and I decided it would be too 'busy' by adding all the flowers to it.  I machine quilted this on my new Brother... much easier to do with straight lines!
This is the back side of the quilt.  I hope to give it to baby Kamden's mom next week. 

**The most important thing I have learned so far about my Brother.... the needle will go up or down, whether your thumb is out of the way or not!  I was trying to change out the quilting foot attachment and 'thought' the needle was in the way.  I hit the up/down button and guess what?  the needle was already UP... so when I hit the button, it came DOWN.... right into my thumb.  It broke off when I snatched my thumb out and yelled some word I didn't even know that I knew.  ;-)  I had about 1/4 to 1/2 of a needle hanging out of my thumb.  I pulled it out without difficulty, stopped the bleeding, and once my heart beat calmed down , I resumed sewing.  BIG LESSON LEARNED!  It was pretty sore for a day or two, but much better now.  I think the owners manual said something about turning the machine OFF when changing out accessories.  I guess I need to reread that part. **

7 comments:

  1. Hi Penny,
    You are too funny. It is amazing what that little monster inside of us knows.LOL Your quilts are so pretty.
    Hugs,
    Elizabeth

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  2. Love it! I have toyed with the idea of the free motion stuff 'cos I love the look..but haven't taken the plunge!

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  3. Ouch!! And the worst part it, you are almost guaranteed to break that precious needle whenever you decide to stitch a finger or thumb. Not that I would know. I think your quilting ooks great! It's best to start with something small, so you are on the road to perfection.

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  4. Ouch Penny!!!! I sewed my thumb on my mother's machine when I was a teenager and "AIN'T" never forgot it... to put it nicely. It sure does get your attention!

    Your FMQing and straight line quilting look great!

    I'm ready to quilt my blue and beige quilt, when ever I get time to baste it and get on the machine.

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  5. What a cute quilt! Sorry about the boo boo, though. Knock on wood I have not done that. My grandma's forefinger had only half of a finger nail from a similar injury when she was young. She taught me to sew and I have never forgotten that finger!

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  6. Wow, your story is a good warning to be careful with the up/down button! Glad it wasn't worse.

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  7. Ouch on the thumb, hope it's okay.
    The quilt is very pretty.

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